Why Spurs reject Tim Sherwood could be perfect for West Brom

Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood could be perfect for West Brom (Picture: Getty Images)

It has been another laborious managerial search for West Brom. Days have bled into weeks, and potential candidates have fallen by the wayside. Finally, as the process enters its fifth week, the club appear to be closing in on their target.

Recent developments have seen former Tottenham Hotspur boss Tim Sherwood emerge as favourite to become the next Albion head coach.

There are a number of things that trouble me about this, not least the ex-Blackburn player’s unpredictable temprement.

That combined with his rumoured unfriendly relationship with Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy would naturally lead one to assume that Sherwood would be combustible, especially with Albion Chairman Jeremy Peace. This is something which, after a run of scandals since Christmas 2012, the club are eager to avoid.

Add his lack of managerial experience (a la Steve Clarke), his lack of practise in the transfer market and his somewhat dividing personality, it is easy to see why many Albion fans may have reservations with Sherwood as a choice.

Despite this however, the more one thinks about it, the easier it is to be quietly pleased with the increasingly likely appointment.

Firstly, it is well publicised that Sherwood actually had the best record of any Tottenham manager in the Premier League era – with a staggering near 60 per cent win percentage as Spurs boss. Of course this must be tempered with the fact that he was at the helm for only five months, but there must be a correlation between Sherwood’s arrival and the upturn in form?

Sherwood’s strengths lie not only in his record but in his personality. Although he is relatively ‘Marmite’ in nature, Sherwood does seem to possess the characteristics that could get the Albion faithful quickly onside.

Affable in post-match interviews, and clearly blessed with a sense of humour, he is more than capable in conducting himself in a way that will make him popular with the fan base.

Although his notorious passion may sometimes manifest itself through petulance, few Albion fans would view his feisty nature as a particularly bad thing, particularly when you consider the club’s recent lacklustre performances and disciplinary problems.

Whilst West Brom clearly do not possess the same resources as a club like Spurs, and certainly do not possess the on field firepower of Sherwood’s previous side, under his tutelage, Tottenham were attacking and free flowing.

It is this kind of football that was the key behind Steve Clarke’s early success, and may even be a throwback to the wonderful Championship seasons under Tony Mowbray. After such a goal-dry season Sherwood’s style could bring back some much-needed excitement.

Even more promisingly, Sherwood cited Roy Hodgson his main coaching inspiration (Sherwood played under him at Blackburn) just days ago in a column for the Independent, and if Sherwood can genuinely replicate some of the organisational ideas planted by the much-loved Hodgson we could see a perfect combination of playing styles for Albion to success next season.